What To Know About the East Wing Demolition

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00:00The Trump administration raised the East Wing of the White House, the first step in President

00:04Donald Trump's plan to build a $350 million ballroom. With little in the way of public notice,

00:11no permits, no review, and no debate, the administration demolished the entire wing,

00:16including building elements dating back to 1805. The East Wing was built under President Theodore

00:21Roosevelt, then substantially expanded in 1942 when an underground bunker was added for secure

00:28military operations. Rosalind Carter turned the East Wing into offices for the First Lady. The

00:34building was also home to the President's social secretary and correspondents. In addition to the

00:40East Wing, the Trump administration also demolished the East Colonnade, elements of which were built

00:45by President Thomas Jefferson. The excavators that began pulling down the East Wing on October 20th

00:50took the nation by surprise, both the general public and architects, historians, and preservationists.

00:56Historic federal buildings are protected by a framework of federal laws, agency guidelines,

01:01and past precedents. But the White House is exempt from federal historic preservation law,

01:06and the Trump administration has argued that federal guidelines for new construction do not

01:11apply for demolition. The Trump administration has said that it will submit its plans for the 90,000

01:16square foot ballroom, which will be nearly twice the size of the White House mansion,

01:21two federal agencies for review.